That’s optimistic.

The combined 75/76 and A330 fleets totaled over 80 aircraft, nearly double the number of A321XLRs currently on order.

They had dedicated pay rates and were separate from the "regular" narrowbody fleet and flying. The new A321 XLR isn't. If anything, I expect it to go junior to the 757.

Not entirely accurate, and the distinction doesn’t really change the manpower needs… it’s still roughly half the number of airframes.

The A321XLR does have a dedicated bid, flying, and pay rates, aligned with the 757 and 767-200/300, and with the 767-400/A330 on long-range segments.

Having two more types changed the manpower needs too! This is much more efficient for them. It's disappointing they can't turn that efficiency into blowout earnings.

I appreciate the override but 757 pilots got 757 pay on vacation. XLR pilots in the 'special' bid status can be assigned domestic trips without the override and take a paycut on vacation.

It's similar, better than nothing, but very critically not the same.

Couldn’t agree more.

XLR reserve is likely going to be a nightmare. Qualified on XLRs, A319s, and everything in between. A scheduler’s wet dream. The pinnAAcle of "efficiency".

UAL is getting them too…for all intents they are moving in the direction of a 4 airframe airline as well. Obviously the XLR is a big efficiency win for the airlines in terms of manpower.

Just wait till they put the XLR flying in all the 320/I, I mean BQ, bid statuses lol. Keeping it separate will at least allow some of us north of #3000 to bid on it lol.

I am not sure why people think one status will be limited to see the XLR....... I am sure LGA 320 D will fly the XLR.

Now not every status will get AE qualified just like not every status gets sent off to do the Hawaii qual or the Terrain qual. The AE qual will probably be limited to LGA and PHL or any other status that gains international flying the XLR will do. But an LGA 320 D person will probably be doing the JFK-LAX transcon in an XLR that will be replacing the T's. Or an DCA 320 if they decide to build that leg into their bid packets, etc.

There was a CCI about this:

"The A321NY will initially be flown on routes where the A321T is normally used. As these flights are not confined to a particular domicile or bid status, please review and become familiar with the content in the fleet bulletin as well as the source manuals."

Ask the LAX guys how the etops thing worked out for them. A few years ago when they started doing 321s to Hawaii lots of senior daddies thought that they would never have to fly east of Riverside again. That lasted about a year, now all those old 757 routes they thought would bring back the glory days are embedded in 5 day trips.